Lancing Device

Here are Some Great Tips for Lancing Your Finger

1. Do not re-use lancets. Many people do re-use lancets, either because they’re trying to save money or just to have one less thing to do. In general, as long as you use a lancet only on yourself, and you clean your fingers before you lance them, re-use of lancets does not cause major problems. However, each time you re-use a lancet, the point becomes a little less sharp. Some people find they have less pain when they use a new lancet every time.

2. Set your lancet holder at the shallowest setting you can use while still getting a large-enough blood drop for your meter. The shallower the poke, the less it will hurt. It may take some experimentation to find which setting works for you. I suggest starting with the middle setting, and gradually getting shallower if you bleed a lot, and deeper if you don’t bleed enough.

3. Steady your hands so you can poke your finger without moving it. Some people flinch and move their hands slightly when they press the button on the lancing device. If you move your finger while the lancet is poking it, you can cause a small tear in the skin, which can be very painful. This happens most often when someone is lancing a finger with the hands in the air in front of the body. If you have trouble holding your hands steady while you are lancing your finger, it can help to steady your hands on a table or against a wall.